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The family behind Prime "N" Tender Meats likes to think of themselves as friendly neighbors?ones who can slice a piece of roast beef to perfection. Regular customers know the men behind the shop's counter, Dan Sr. and Dan Jr. The butchers have been at it since 1985, helping shoppers select the perfect rib eye steak, cut of veal, sirloin burger, or other type of beef, all of which is graded USDA Prime. Their glass display case also showcases Perdue poultry, Iowa pork, Boar's Head deli meats, and oven-ready items such as stuffed chicken breasts and filet mignon stroganoff. Beyond that, they keep their shop stocked with gourmet grocery items, including many specialty sauces that go great with meat or a salad made of potato-chip crumbs from the bottom of the bag.
However, the Dans don't make their customers wait til dinnertime to sate their appetites. They also serve housemade salads and stuff their gourmet meats into custom deli sandwiches, which come crowned in toppings such as smoked gouda.

The first Ebert Studio opened almost 100 years ago on Chicago's west side. Since then, four successive generations have preserved memories for countless families in studios that now reside in Oak Park and Hinsdale. At the helm today is Jeff Ebert, the great-grandson of the studio's founder. Jeff makes a very small distinction to give you the big picture—"It's not so much that it's photography," he says, "but it's photographing people."
Making people feel comfortable and look better is just one part of his job. The next part is to create "a piece like a painting that can be hung above a mantle and somebody can be proud of for years and years to come." As the latest in a line of artists stretching back to 1915, Jeff does that well, harnessing the power of passed time and using it to build a portfolio that showcases families, weddings, animals, and individuals. Some of his notable subjects have included Cardinal Francis George, Walter Payton, and film director Christopher Columbus, known for his historical documentary of babysitting, Home Alone.

Though he founded Enlightened Hands Wellness & Massage, it would be inaccurate to describe Michael J. Bouvier simply as a massage therapist. He's an accomplished wellness arts practitioner who has done everything from study under master herbalist Ron Teeguarden to taking hands-on anatomy courses to becoming a certified qigong instructor. In regards to massage, Michael has mastered many techniques, including, though not limited to, myofascial release and reflexology. True to his holistic approach to care, his service menu covers a broad range of treatments. Massages might incorporate Swedish, deep-tissue, or trigger-point modalities, while qigong sessions and stability ball classes teach posture exercises, stretches, and breathing techniques to relieve stress and recharge the body's AA batteries.

For nearly a decade, the technicians at Fodeo have preserved grainy videos, film, slides, and photos from the effects of wear and age by transferring them onto more dependable and accessible digital formats. On a daily basis, celluloid formats spend their days aging inside drawers and on shelves, where they can fall victim to such hazards as water, dust, and snack time. Technicians work in-house to rescue captured images, ensuring treasured footage remains safe and in one place during its transformation.
In addition to preserving images, Fodeo has developed innovative methods for displaying them as well. Fraimz–durable adhesive photo frames that can stick on multiple suface types without causing damage to either the photo or surface–is the result of their nearly four years of research and development.

The term “family environment” sometimes conjures thoughts of shrieking toddlers and floors turned into flypaper due to discarded cotton candy, but those images evaporate the moment you step into any one of Air Fitness’ three pristine facilities. Here, families work out in an exclusive social setting, as each location accepts only 150 memberships. From grandparents to gradeschoolers, members work their way toward better health on Cybex and Precor fitness equipment, overseen by a friendly staff of trainers and nutritionists. For one-on-one attention, the trainers develop personalized programs customized to each patron's fitness goals, such as losing weight, lowering their blood pressure, or looking good in a new hazmat suit.

When the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1988, it was a tightly knit ensemble consisting entirely of principals from the Lyric Opera Orchestra. Since then, it has blossomed into a collective of more than 200 professional Chicagoland musicians. But despite the increased size and bow-tie budget, the players have lost none of their precision or dynamic nature, prompting the Chicago Tribune to herald the group as ?one of the finest symphonic orchestras.?

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Even after Joyce escaped from a militant group of kidnappers, she was sleeping in the streets of a Ugandan ghetto. Then she discovered this design nonprofit.
One afternoon in 2005, a 14-year-old Ugandan girl named Joyce found herself staring into the barrel of a machine gun. It happened quickly—she’d just stepped away from her family’s hut to fetch kindling from a woodpile. She could still see her home from where she stood, but with an automatic weapon in her face, she had no choice but to follow the orders of the person pointing it at her.
That person was a member of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a militant group whose numbers are said to be continuously replenished by kidnapped children. Joyce spent the next two years in an LRA encampment, where rape, murder, mutilation, and forced prostitution were regular occurrences.
But then one night in 2007, gunfire ripped through the camp. In the frenzy, Joyce grabbed her shoes and ran into the darkness. It took her days to get back to her own village; upon returning, she discovered her family had been killed and she had nowhere to live. She set off for nearby Gulu, where she starved and slept in the streets. When she was discovered by a group of teenage girls, they brought her back to their ghetto and introduced her to their only means of survival—selling their bodies.
A Glimmer of Hope, Halfway Around the World
Nearly 8,000 miles away in Chicago, Kristen Hendricks was spending her free time ladeling out meals at local soup kitchens. Her day job was operating a private-label handbag and accessories company. But when she started learning about human trafficking in Africa, her life’s passion changed. She spent months researching it, then booked a trip to Uganda to see its reality firsthand.
“It grabbed my heart,” Hendricks said. “[But] I thought, ‘What can I do? I’m just a handbag designer.’” Eventually, though, she let her experience in fashion shape a grand concept: the Kwagala Project, an organization that raises funds for survivors of sex trafficking and other human-rights violations, in part through the creation of jewelry and accessories that the women make themselves. Since Hendricks founded Kwagala in 2008, the sale of these items has helped fund a vocational school, a college scholarship fund, and two rehabilitation centers, including one in Gulu called Total Impact House.
Total Impact House’s First Resident
By 2009, after a few years of prostitution in Gulu’s horrific ghettos, Joyce had nearly lost the desire to live. But then she met Pauline, a Kwagala Project director who offered Joyce the opportunity to be the first to move into Total Impact House. Joyce agreed, and there, she was given access to things she hadn’t had the comfort of enjoying in years, including regular meals and a safe place to sleep. She also took advantage of education and vocational training, eventually becoming the first to graduate from Kwagala’s vocational school.
Since then, hundreds of other young women have found hope for a better life through Kwagala Project. Though the women share common experiences, each story is different. “Most people think [it’s like] the movie Taken,” Hendricks said of the women and children they rescue. “But there are a zillion different scenarios. In the slums and Third World countries where people have zero resources, they’re [often] rescued from their own family members. We aren’t necessarily pounding down brothel doors, but we talk to them, educate them. We tell the family members that we’ll take care of their kids.”
How Chicago Has Stayed Part of the Story
Hendricks’s ties to Chicago have never stopped aiding in Kwagala Project’s mission. Local corporations such as Total Attorneys and MentorMob have funded rehabilitation centers and gotten involved through hands-on volunteer work. Individuals have also helped the organization thrive in creative ways: take Julie Hillery, PhD, a fashion-studies professor at Columbia College, who rallied her students to spread awareness of Kwagala Project through social media and marketing.
But any Chicagoan can get involved by buying the organization’s jewelry—100% of the proceeds go directly to Kwagala Project. The women also create packages of discounted fundraising bracelets, which purchasers resell to benefit both Kwagala Project and an organization of their choosing.
Jewelry Made from Recycled Materials
Although many find it hard to believe upon seeing the shiny, colorful beads used in Kwagala’s jewelry, they’re all made from recycled paper. Dyed paper is purchased locally (it’s a popular item at Ugandan markets) and cut into triangular strips. The women then roll the strips into beads, varnish and sun-dry them, and string them into bracelets and necklaces, which can range in price from $18.95 for a teal clasp bracelet to $26.95 for a short pink necklace.
It’s a technique that is remarkably similar to the mission of Kwagala Project itself. “[The bead-making process] represents who we are,” Hendricks said. “It’s a recycled material, one that once was considered garbage, but now is extraordinary jewelry.”
Photo: courtesy of Laura Ferkaluk

We give you the vital stats on five individuals brave enough to jump in Lake Michigan—in January.
The recent “polar vortex” has many Chicagoans dreaming of sunny beaches—just not those around Lake Michigan. But on January 25, hundreds of brave souls will dive into those icy waters as part of The Lakeview Polar Bear Club’s 14th annual Polar Plunge. This “Celebration of Shrinkage” is not merely an activity for the insane; it’s also an important fundraiser for two local families impacted by severe medical challenges. Last year, 440 Polar Bears raised $81,500, and this year, event founder Brian Marchal hopes to blow that number out of the water.
To accomplish this, he’s enlisted his army of volunteer jumpers to collect funds as they prepare to show off their swim trunks and Speedos to the crowds on Oak Street Beach. We reached out to five of these seasoned and novice Polar Bears to learn their plunge survival strategies and assess their mental health.
THE VETERAN: Ken, Age 27
Number of Polar Plunges: 2
Plunge ensemble: As of the last plunge, I am an official Speedo owner.
Pre-plunge routine: I strip down early. Letting my body adapt to the cold air before the cold water helps reduce the shock jumping into the cold water. [Doing] some jumping jacks right before the plunge not only gets your blood pumping but also shows people around you that you are a seasoned pro and possibly mentally unstable.
Longest time spent in the water after a plunge: Three minutes. I had to help a friend who lost his glasses. They were ultimately claimed by the icy depths of Lake Michigan.
Favorite way to warm up after a plunge: The after-party, obviously. [It] won’t just warm your body, but it will warm your heart knowing you are fundraising for some deserving families.
Lessons learned since first Plunge: Don't listen to the crazy couple of guys that decide jumping in wasn't too bad so they go back for round two. Round two is much worse than round one.
THE POLAR PRO: Matt, Age 35
Number of Polar Plunges: 4
Plunge ensemble: Usually just a regular swimsuit, but Speedos are pretty popular amongst most Polar Bears.
Longest time spent in the water after a plunge: 30 seconds, tops.
Lessons learned since first plunge: Never wear flip-flops. Seriously. Your feet are so cold that you can't feel whether or not they're still on, and you'll inevitably lose them in the water and end up walking around on ice chunks.
Do you wait 30 minutes after eating before a plunge? I never wait 30 minutes after eating before doing anything.
Best excuse for chickening out: lake-water allergy, or swim trunks eaten by an actual polar bear? The lake water is questionable year-round so a sudden allergy seems suspect. I'd go with the polar bear. With the winter we've had so far, it's possible there might be some around!
THE NEWBIE: Kevin, Age 26
Number of Polar Plunges: 0
Reason for taking the plunge: First and foremost, the two families. Second, [I’ve] wanted to do one for a long time and got more than 20 members from Anytime Fitness to participate.
Safety in numbers: We are most looking forward to doing this as a group. Positive peer pressure in this instance will be awesome and make for an amazing event!
Plunge ensemble: We plan on dressing crazy in either superhero costumes, short manly shorts, cutoff jean shorts, or other such fashionable attire.
Post-plunge goals: To organize a plunge “across the pond” in Michigan City.
Advice from seasoned Polar Bears: "Just jump in." No easy way about it.
THE CHAMP: Michael, Age 36
Number of Polar Plunges: A handful of times over the years.
Longest time spent in the water after a plunge: One year the lake was frozen, and we sat out on the ice. I was out there for about a half hour before Brian’s [Marchal] mom, a registered nurse, made us come in. Another time it was over five minutes. Again, we were made to come in by Brian's mom.
Survival strategy: I play paddle ball [in the water]. Takes your mind off of it.
Favorite way to warm up after a plunge: Jameson.
Most triumphant plunge: Back when we used to see who could stay in the longest, I had that dubious honor a couple of times.
THE SOCKLESS WONDER: Grant, Age 28
Number of Polar Plunges: 3
Pre-plunge training: Cold showers are way worse than the real plunge.
Plunge ensemble: [I put on] lots of layers before the plunge to make sure I'm nice and toasty beforehand. That way, once I strip down, the breeze is actually more refreshing than painful.
Lessons learned since first plunge: Shoes are required for the plunge, but socks are NOT. Having those sponges of icy water next to your feet and trying to take them off with numb fingers on the beach is significantly harder than just taking off shoes!
Best excuse for chickening out: No excuses! Anyone can take the plunge and have a great time. The mix of people at the beach is incredible: old, young, fat, skinny, guys, gals, mustaches, clean-shaven, costumes, Speedos, capes, you name it. Everyone takes the plunge together and has an awesome time!
Photo courtesy of Lakeview Polar Bear Club.

Don’t call her a seamstress. Julia Needlman is a dressmaker. “[A seamstress] doesn’t do anything but sew seams. I create things,” she explains during our interview at her Ukrainian Village studio. Inheriting her name and talents from her great-grandfather, a Russian-born tailor, Needlman picked up a needle at the age of 6 and hasn’t put it down since. Her specialty is wedding wear, and many brides come to her for custom creations. Needlman walked me through the custom-dress process and answered a lot of FAQs along the way.
What do I need to bring to my first visit with the dressmaker?
“Thirty adjectives,” Needlman says, and she means it. She suggests brides share 30 words that describe themselves, their wedding, and even their fiancé. “I like to remember that this is connected to a whole family of people who have a relationship to this person already, and they want to see her as she is.”
In fact, Needleman recommends bringing friends and family along. “All of the people who are gonna have a say in this thing, bring ‘em.” Ideally those closest to you will share their honest opinions about what fabrics and styles make you look like you. And of course bring along any pictures that inspire you.
Also good to have on hand: any shoes or accessories you know you want to wear and the knowledge of styles you’ve already tried on.
Can you make my dress look just like this picture?
Needlman warns that she often has to “talk people down” from the pictures they’ve brought in. Especially if it’s a celebrity’s red-carpet gown. “Those dresses are very different from what you think,” she says. “They are sprayed on, stuck on, kept on,” and can be quite painful to wear.
They can also cost $30,000. Haute couture designers use rare, expensive fabrics that simply “don’t exist” in the world of everyday dressmakers. Unless you have an unlimited budget, going in with down-to-earth expectations will streamline the entire process.
That said, bringing in a photo can be helpful when used as a reference point. But be able to verbalize exactly what catches your fancy about a particular design. Two sets of eyes can see the world very differently.
How much is my custom wedding dress going to cost?
A college professor once told Needlman, “I can’t spend $1,000 on a dress for one day.” Needlman suggested she think of it a little differently: “You spend $1,000 on a class that teaches you how to see yourself and how other people see you, and then you get a dress at the end of it.” Yes, a custom, made-from-scratch wedding dress starts at about $1,200, not including fabric, but this cost often includes extensive consultations, fittings, and a veil to boot—not to mention the crash course in self-discovery.
You won’t necessarily save money buying off the rack. Needlman regularly sees $300 gowns turn into $1,000 gowns after she’s forced to alter nearly every stitch. “And there are such things as dresses that you buy that do not fit you that cannot be fit to you,” she says. “The way you save money is to be conscientious about who you are and what you want in a real way, and then use [your] words as a map so that you don’t make the mistake of choosing the wrong dress.”
How long does the custom-dress process take?
Needlman spends about 40­–60 hours on each dress, but she prefers that it not be the 40­–60 hours before the wedding. Though she’s had clients come to her a year in advance for an initial meeting, she says that four months is plenty.
What if I change my mind?
“You don’t have something in hand when you have a custom; you have to go on faith,” Needlman cautions. If the idea of not holding a finished product in your hand until several weeks before the wedding bugs you out, then a custom dress may not be for you.
While the custom-dress process can be very collaborative and usually evolves along the way, trust and honesty are always paramount. You not only have to trust that the dressmaker will realize your vision, you also have to be truthful about what your vision actually is. On this subject Needman has very direct advice: “You don’t lie to your doctor, and you don’t lie to your dressmaker!”